⁸ Now Asa had a military force of ^(A)300,000 from Judah, bearing large shields and spears, and 280,000 from Benjamin, bearing shields and wielding bows; all of them were mighty men of valor.

⁹ Then Zerah the Ethiopian ^(B)went out against them with a military force of one million men and 300 chariots, and he came to ^(C)Mareshah. ¹⁰ So Asa went out ^[a]to meet him, and they arranged themselves for battle in the valley of Zephathah at Mareshah. ¹¹ Then Asa ^(D)called to Yahweh his God and said, “Yahweh, there is no one besides You to help in the battle between those of abundant power and those who have no power; so help us, O Yahweh our God, ^(E)for we lean on You, and in Your name have come against this multitude. O Yahweh, You are our God; let not mortal man prevail against You.” ¹² So ^(F)Yahweh smote the Ethiopians before Asa and before Judah, and the Ethiopians fled. ¹³ And Asa and the people who were with him pursued them as far as ^(G)Gerar; and so many Ethiopians fell that ^[b]they could not recover, for they were shattered before Yahweh and before His ^[c]army. And they carried away very much spoil. ¹⁴ And they struck down all the cities around Gerar, ^(H)for the dread of Yahweh had fallen on them; and they plundered all the cities, for there was much plunder in them. ¹⁵ They also struck down ^[d]those who owned livestock, and they carried away large numbers of sheep and camels. Then they returned to Jerusalem.